"The Rocket" missiles to victory!

Wisconsin's Chris Solinsky delighted his huge hometown turnout with a sensational effort in winning the 2002 Foot Locker Nationals! Californians will get to see Solinsky up close in April, when he says he will return to the Arcadia Invitational to defend his 3200-meter crown. Solinsky won the FLCCC in 14:41! (Photo by Kirby Lee)

By Rich Gonzalez

After his self-described “too-late-to-matter” finishing kick of a year ago, Chris Solinsky vowed to learn from his tactical flaw. On Saturday, his strategic refinement not only netted the Stevens Point (Wis.) High School standout his first Foot Locker Nationals cross-country title, he parlayed it into among the most dominant performances in the illustrious 24-year history of the meet!

Solinsky rode a conservative opening-mile clip to rank among the early race leaders, then amply crushed the competition with a series of surges along the hills, including a pivotal burst of strength on a challenging incline midway through the third mile of the 5-kilometer, double-figure-8 challenge.

“The top of the hill the second time around… I felt a little weak,” quipped Solinsky. “But if I was hurting, I knew everyone else was too.”

Solinsky’s sheer strength fostered the critical point of separation, with the U. of Wisconsin-bound star widening his lead to as much as 150 meters down the stretch, en route to victory in 14:41, with his 20-second margin of triumph over fellow Midwest Region running mate Wesley Smith of Ohio matching the largest in meet history!
Solinsky’s clocking also tied him with Adam Goucher for third on the all-time Foot Locker list at San Diego’s Balboa Park, trailing only Reuben Reina (14:36) and Marc Davis (14:38).

In short order, Solinsky made believers of everyone, including one very notable analyst.

“That guy’s incredible. He was humping through that course the whole way,” said South Region honorary captain Alan Webb, of sub-4-minute high school miling fame. “I don’t think people realize just how strong a race that was. … I did a tempo run here the other day, and this course is not easy. His race was stunning.”

Solinsky actually altered his race strategy at the start of the weekend, when a run-through of the layout and an impromptu meeting with one very steep hill convinced him to discard his start-out-fast-and-power-though-it approach in favor of a continually increasing tempo, diminishing any chance of "maxing out" prematurely.

“At the start, I felt amazingly good, almost like I was jogging,” said Solinsky. “From that point on, I knew my chances were going to be real good.”

Solinsky also did not lack for support, either, as an estimated crowd of 40 “Rocket Booster” supporters made the trip from Wisconsin to cheer on their hero, dubbed the “Rocket”. Among the familiar sites throughout the day were “STOP the Rocket” T-shirts and chest markings relaying the same message.

“People kept telling me I was the favorite, but I just ignored them,” said Solinsky, lending insight into his ability to avoid unnecessary pressures. “I didn’t want to just be bigheaded and be too lazy.”

“The Rocket” said he would likely compete in the upcoming U.S. Junior Nationals for cross-country, hoping to secure a spot to the World Juniors meet. Even so, Solinsky said he would not train specifically for Junior Nationals, opting instead to ease his training load a bit and then start workouts geared toward track season, where he has set a very lofty time goal – which we’ll hold off on divulging at this time. Here’s a hint, though: circle a weekend date in mid-April on your calendars.

Solinsky’s victory also marked the twelfth time that a Midwest Region runner has captured the national title in the 24 years of the competition. Additionally, he was among a quartet of Midwest runners blanketing the top four positions by midrace, in a stunning show of regional dominance. The Midwest Region ultimately claimed 4 of the top 6 spots, setting up an easy 27-44 victory over the runner-up South Region.

Wesley Smith’s runner-up placing marked a nice national-scene breakthrough for the Hudson HS (Ohio) talent, making his first appearance in the year-end meet a memorable one. Smith, whose weekly mileage usually tops out at nothing above 45 miles per week, trekked the hilly course in 15:01, a sensational time that would have earned the title spot in 7 of the previous 18 championships contested at Balboa Park!

Hudson HS (Ohio) senior Wes Smith takes second!

“I know a lot of people didn’t know about me, but I was thinking a Top 3 or 4 finish was in me,” said Smith, who has yet to make his college decision. “I felt good during the middle. … When we had the top four guys in the middle of the race, that got me going even more.”

Kentucky’s Bobby Curtis (St. Xavier HS) avenged last year’s bitter showing as a result of a sinus infection, unleashing a fine closing kick in this one to nip Indiana’s Nef Araia (Lawrence North HS) right at the finish, 15:06 to 15:07. Curtis actually started sizing up Araia with about 100 meters to go, sporting a wide grin as he began shearing away the gap.

“Nef was talking a lot of trash all week,” laughed Curtis. “I just HAD to beat him, otherwise I would never had heard the end of it.”

Curtis was among a large collection of runners continually moving up and down the in-race running order, but he closed with a flourish!

Araia went undefeated throughout the season before losses to Solinsky at the regional and Solinsky, Smith and Curtis at the nationals foiled his unblemished ledger.

North Carolinan Matt DeBole (Mt. Tabor HS) fulfilled his primary goal of a Top-5 finish, garnering the fifth position to lead a group of 11 runners crossing the line in a 10-second span.

“I was pretty much in the lead of the chase pack most of the way and was able to close well,” said DeBole, who trimmed down his trademark shoulder-length mane of hair.

“I’m happy with how it turned out. You always hope for better, but I felt like it was a good effort.”

Possibly the biggest surprise of the boys’ race was the sixth-place finish (15:15) of Minnesota’s Garrett Heath (Winona Senior HS), who stunned most national aficionados in also being the top non-senior in the 32-runner field. Heath just edged Californian Mohamed Trafeh (Duarte HS), who was hardly surprised he was the top California finisher, that despite being the final qualifier from the West Region just last week.

“This is my (true) level, this is it,” Trafeh kept repeating, pointing to his place on the results sheets. “With Ramadan over, there’s no more fasting for me. I’m back to eating normal now and my strength was back this week. This is my level.”

Ahmed Haji (Conard HS) of Connecticut edged Benjamin True (Greely HS) of Maine for the top spot among Northeast Region competitors, clocking identical times of 15:16.

In a duplication of their finish order at the South Regional, Ryan Deak nipped fellow Floridian Steve Hassen for 12th, with both timed in 15:21.

Hassen, clearly among the more physically developed runners in the field, moved up well in the latter stages, nabbing at least half a dozen runners to place 13th.

"That was the highest caliber race I've ever been in, so to make up ground... that was great," beamed Hassen. "My coach planned on me making a move near that hill, and it really helped."

If anything, Hassen's rise up through the nation's elite could mean another Hassen household paint job... possibly making his mom cringe.

"My main goal was to make nationals," quipped Hassen. "I even painted it on the wall in my room: 'Foot Locker Nationals'... and saw it every day and it kept me focused. Now, I gotta find a new goal for track... Yes, I'll have to paint that one, too!"

Like many athletes sharing their post-race experiences, Deak and Illinois’ Stephen Pifer said the final hill during the third mile was a killer.

“I slowed to about eight-minute(-per-mile) pace there the second time around,” quipped Deak.

“I was more like nine,” said Pifer. “Still, I got 14th, so I was able to make All-American, which is cool.”

There were a fair share of heartache sessions as well, with the West Region seemingly overwhelmed here, with only two of its eight runners finishing in the top half of the field. Given that the West girls also struggled, a few experts ventured to raise the theory that the disadvantage of competing on hilly courses on back-to-back weekends really plagued the Westerners. The other three regions had the added luxury of an extra seven days to recover from the regional efforts before competing at nationals. Maybe, just maybe, moving the meet from Florida to the tougher slopes of Balboa Park will pose a very stern burden for West Region athletes in the coming years.

Oregon’s Lauren Jespersen (Klamath Union HS), considered by many to be the most serious threat to Solinsky’s chances, placed 10th, well short of fulfilling his title aspirations.

Jespersen, who said he’ll be gunning for a very fast time in the mile at the Arcadia Invitational in hopes of garnering an invitation to the Prefontaine Classic, told us he had a feeling of “weights tied to my wrists” throughout the race, a sensation he’d never experienced before. He further said that once the condition surfaced, it only worsened on the hills, making it a race for survival.

Tim Nelson (Liberty Christian HS), the three-time California State Division 5 champion, also seemed out of rhythm by midrace, eventually settling for 18th place in 15:28.

Utah’s Steve Shepherd (Weber HS) placed 19th here after placing second in the West Regional, indicating the consecutive weeks of hill pounding took its toll. From our experiences with him, Shepherd has never been one to make excuses, so when he referred to the effects of the rigorous eight-day racing schedule, it really got our attention.

California’s Michael Poe (Etiwanda HS), the Division I state champion, also cited a less-than-optimum feeling and an ultra-deep talent pool as challenging, as he eventual placed 22nd in his national championship debut.

Oregon’s Galen Rupp (Central Catholic HS), a sensational darkhorse candidate in the eyes of many, began to encounter extreme dizziness in the closing stages of the race, eventually losing his coordination in crumpling to the ground and not finishing the race. Rupp’s malaise occurred just 300 meters from the finish, shortly after a fine late-race surge had him catch several rivals and move into ninth position – only to collapse and not finish.

Rupp, who has an asthma condition, admitted he began to have trouble breathing just before the onset of dizziness, but was unsure whether an asthma attack was coming on.

Dyestat Cal News

is published by

Editor: Doug Speck/Rich Gonzalez
Publisher: John Dye

�2002 by DyeStat